Ione Brown
June 25, 1925 ~ July 14, 2012
Ione Brown, 87, of Buffalo, MN and formerly of Faulkton, SD, passed away, Saturday, July 14, 2012 at the Parkview Care Center in Buffalo, MN.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the United Church of Faulkton. Burial followed in the Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation with the family present was held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Luce Funeral Home in Faulkton.
Ione Brown entered this world on June 25, 1925 the first of eight children. Her parents were Edward and Marie (Puetz) Jungwirth and she spent her adolescence in Zell and Wecota, South Dakota.
Ione graduated from Cresbard High School with aspirations to become a Navy nurse during World War II. Ione graduated from Presentation College with a degree in nursing, but fortunately the war ended before she could be commissioned. With the war’s end, her fiancé, Jarvis Brown, returned from his service in the Navy and they married Thanksgiving weekend, 1946.
Jarvis started law school, and Ione’s work in a small clinic in Vermillion and help from the GI bill, kept the two newlyweds housed and fed until her husband’s graduation.
After graduation the couple moved to Faulkton, SD where they would reside until the end of their working lives. Ione was an asset to her community where she worked as a nurse in a medical clinic, a hospital, and a nursing home. She also often took night shifts, specializing in the care of patients in the hospital and at home (similar to today’s hospice care). Throughout her professional life she did many jobs relating to the care of the citizens of Faulkton, and she was instrumental in establishing the EMT services for Faulkton.
In her private life, Ione was involved in supporting her husband and raising her children, but she was also a vigorous volunteer at the Methodist Church, a strong supporter of the American Legion Auxiliary, (as a member of over 50 years), and tireless worker in establishing the Lakeside Golf Course. Her many contributions helped build the vitality of the town of Faulkton. One of her last community activities was to manage the Lionette Girl’s Fastpitch team where she served as nurse, equipment manager, cheerleader, and second mother to many young ladies.
In her final years in Faulkton she helped support her husband as he served in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Ione enjoyed her time in Pierre, helping with committees as well as engaging in the social aspect of her position.
After her husband passed, she moved to Buffalo, MN to be nearer to her children who loved having her physically closer after so many years.
She again made many new friends in her new home.
She was the best wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend for whom anyone could wish. Those who knew her truly appreciated her compassion, loyalty, and loving, gentle spirit.
Ione was preceded in death by her husband, father, mother, and two brothers.
She is survived by her children Bradley (Mary) Brown, Thomas (MaryLee) Melius, Philip (Dolly) Brown, and Holly (Gale) Herman. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed.
Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Ione’s arrangements.
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So sorry for your loss–Your Mother was a GRAND LADY and was always so good to your Grandma Marie and your Dear Father
Wishing you God’s Blessings during your time of loss and always
Scott Armstrong
To Brad, Phil, Tom, Holly and families:
Deepest sympathy for the loss of your Mother. She is remembered fondly by all who knew her. May you find consolation in your grief.
Sincerely, Bruce Arneson and Elise Arneson
Wishing you comfort in friends and family and hope in prayer. You have our deepest sympathy.
From: Delbert Schmidt and family
I really got to know Ione when we started the arts council and were doing community theatre in Faulkton. She volunteered to help with just about everything to help out in those days. One story in particular sticks out for me that gives an example of all she did. We were rehearsing for “Oklahoma” and trying to clean and fix up the Legion Hall for the production. Ione had scrubbed floors, helped paint, get props–you name it–she did it! The director was John Mullen, her son-in-law at the time and the comment was made that Ione would do anything to help with the production–Jarv said he bet if John asked her to dig an orchestra pit, she would do it!! That was Ione!
Ione was a great lady and I know you will miss her and even though I had not seen her for some time, I have wonderful memories of when she was in Faulkton. God bless you all.
Linda, I never knew that story. I think it is even more amusing because it is so true.